Rolling mill guide in a multistrand rolling mill



Nov. 8, 1966 R. J. HERMES ETAL 3,283,554

ROLLING MILL GUIDE IN A MULTISTRAND ROLLING MILL 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 11, 1964 1966 R. J. HERMES ETAL 3,233,554

ROLLING MILL GUIDE} IN A MULTISTRAND ROLLING MILL Filed June 11, 1964 (3 Sheets-Sheet 2 1966 R. J. HERMES ETAL 3,283,554

ROLLING MILL GUIDE IN A MULTISTRAND ROLLING MILL Filed June ll, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 an no @MMN United States Patent 3,283,554 ROLLING MILL GUIDE IN A MULTISTRAND ROLLING MILL Robert J. Hermes, West Boylston, Mass., and Joseph W.

Rodnick, Putnam, Conn, assignors to Morgan Construction Co., Worcester, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Filed June 11, 1964, Ser. No. 374,474 9 Claims. (Cl. 72-227) This invention relates to rolling mills and more particularly to a means for adjustably mounting guide a'p paratus between roll housings in a multistrand rolling mill.

Conventional work rolls in a multistrand rolling mill are usually provided with a series of circumferential grooves. When the rolls are combined in a set, the grooves cooperate in providing a plurality of passageways therebetween commonly referred to as passes. The cross-sectional configuration of each pass may of course be varied over a wide range to accommodate various types of stock being rolled. The rolls are journalled for rotation within roll housings which are located in a series along the pass line of the rolling mill. It is to be understood that when positioned along the pass line, the rolls of each housing are aligned to provide a plurality of parallel passes, several of which are frequently utilized at one time in a multistrand rolling operation.

The roll housings are spaced at predetermined intervals along the pass line with one or more intermediate guide assemblies positioned therebetween according to the number of strands being rolled. The guide assemblies, which insure a smooth flow of stock from one housing to the next during the rolling operation, are each usually comprised of a set of stripper guides, a twister guide and a receiving guide. The stripper guides are positioned closely adjacent to the work rolls and extend into the grooves in order to prevent stock from remaining lodged therein once it has passed between the rolls. The twister guides and receiving guides are then aligned immediately subsequent to the stripper guides. Stock is twisted by its passage through the twister guides and then accurately inserted into the proper pass line of the next set of Work rolls by the receiving guides.

The avoid frequent roll changes, roll grooves are usually provided in multiples of the number of strands being rolled. Consequently, when one set of grooves becomes must also be shifted into accurate alignment with the next adjacent set of grooves and the rolling operation continued without a roll change. In so doing, the guide assemblies must also be shifted into accurate alignment with the next set of grooves if a smooth continuous flow of stock is to be maintained. It is to this particular phase in the operation of the mill that the present invention is directed. More particularly, conventional guide assemblies are usually divided into two basic subassemblies. The first subassembly is mounted on one housing and is comprised of the twister guides with the stripper guides forming integral extensions thereof. The second subassembly is comprised of the receiving guides which are mounted on the next subsequent roll housing.

In arrangements of the aforementioned type, the following difficulties have been experienced: because of the guide assembly arrangement, four separate adjustments are required each time the strands of stock are shifted. More particularly in conventional apparatus the stripper guides form integral extensions of the twister guides which protrude inwardly into the roll grooves being utilized during the rolling operation. They must therefore be withdrawn in order to free the twister guides for subsequent lateral adjustment to the next adjacent set of roll grooves. In actual practice, the stripper guides are substantially ing their withdrawal from the grooves.

With the stripper guides withdrawn and if the occasion I demands it, also replaced, the stripper guides are then laterally adjusted to an alternate unused set of roll grooves to be utilized in subsequent rolling operations. Once the twister guides are realigned, the stripper guides must again be advanced and reinserted in an operative position extending into the alternate grooves. Finally, the receiving guides which are attached to the next subsequent roll housing must also be laterally shifted by a separate operation into alignment with the newly adjusted twister and stripper guides. It can therefore be seen that in all, four separate adjustments are required with conventional apparatus when shifting strands. Experience has shown that undue time is frequently consumed by operating personnel in performing the aforementioned guide adjustments. As a result, downtime is increased and valuable production time frequently lost.

These and other diificulties experienced when utilizing prior art devices have now been obviated in a novel manner by the present invention, an important object of which is to provide an improved means for repositioning and aligning guide apparatus located between roll housings in a rolling mill.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a means of laterally adjusting the twister guides and receiving guides without disturbing the positioning of the stripper guides.

A further object of the present invention is to provide individual stripper guides for each roll groove, said stripper guides being separate from the twister guides and fixed to the roll checks for movement therewith during subsequent roll adjustments performed during the rolling operation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a means of simultaneously repositioning the twister guides and receiving guides by the performance of a single adjustment.

A further object of the present invention is to align the twister guides and receiving guides on a common base plate adjustably mounted between roll housings, said base plate capable of being quickly repositioned during lateral shifts of the pass line.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide an improved gauge means for aligning the twister guide and receiving guides during lateral adjustments thereof.

These and other objects of the present invention will become more apparent as the description proceeds with the aid of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in side elevation of a conventional twin-housing arrangement with a portion of each housing partially broken away to show guide apparatus according to the present invention positioned therebetween;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing the twister guides and receivingguides laterally adjusted to an alternate position.

Referring initially to FIGS. 1 and 2 wherein are best shown the general features of the present invention, a pair of conventional horizontal roll housings 19 and 12 are shown positioned along the pass line of a muitistrand rolling mill. As illustrated, the housings are interconnected by intermediate base and top portions 14 and 16 to provide a twin-housing structure generally referred to by the reference numeral 18.

Twin-housing structures are frequently utilized where the sequence of rolling is alternated between an oval cross section and a round cross section. In operations of this type, removal of only one stand during changes in nating sequence between oval and round. housing structure facilitates this operation by enabling two the size of the product being rolled would result in an oval being followed by an oval or a round being followed by a round. To avoid this result, when the size of the product is to be changed, two succeeding housings are always removed in order to maintain the desired alter- The twinhousings to be removed simultaneously. This is accomplished by attaching overhead crane hooks (not shown) to the lifting eyes 2t) which are secured to the upper portion of the twin-housing structure 18. It is to be understood, however, that although the invention will hereinafter be described in connection with twin-housing structures, this is intended only as an illustration and not as a limitation precluding its applicability to situations where separate roll housings are aligned in spaced relationship along a pass line with guide apparatus positioned therebetween on independent supports.

Roll housing 12 is provided with a pair of horizontally disposed work rolls 22 and 24 journalled for rotation between upper and lower roll chocks 26 and x28. Roll housing is similarly provided with upper and lower rolls 29 and 31. The roll chocks are in turn adjustably mounted within the frame structure of each housing. The particular means utilized in supporting and adjusting the roll chocks is not considered as part of the present invention and consequently, will not be discussed in detail. However, it should be understood that the rolls and their respective chocks may be replaced when roll changes are necessitated and in addition, may be adjusted during the rolling operation to compensate for roll wear and to maintain control over the cross-sectional dimensions of the product being produced.

Referring now to FIG. 2, it can be seen that the cylindrical surfaces of the work rolls are interrupted by a series of laterally adjacent circumferential grooves indicated typically by the reference numeral 30. The grooves of each roll set combine to form an equal number of adjacent passageways commonly referred to as passes. As previously indicated the cross-sectional configurations of the passes may be varied over a wide range to suit different types and sizes of product being rolled.

During the rolling'operation, the product travelling in a direction as indicated diagrammatically by arrows in the drawings is initially passed between work rolls 22 and 24. A three-strand operation has been shown for purposes of illustration with a total of twenty-one adjacent grooves 36) on each roll. The number of strands being rolled and the number of grooves in each roll may of course be varied without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The product emerges from between rolls 24 and 26 to enter twister guides 32 which are mounted adjacent the forward edge of a common base plate 34. The twister guides are similar in construction to those disclosed in US. Patent No. 3,013,453, but have been modified in one important respect as will hereinafter be described.

Upon emerging from the twister guides 32, the product then enters aligned receiving guides 36 which are fixed adjacent the rear edge of base plate 34. Receiving guides 36 insure proper insertion of the product into aligned passes formed by grooves 3% in work rolls 29 and 31.

As the product emerges from between a particular set of rolls, it sometimes exhibits a tendency to remain lodged within either the upper or lower circumferential grooves 30 forming the pass. Should this be allowed to occur, the stock would either twist itself about one of the rolls, or in the alternative, be deflected from entering into the twister guide 32. Either occurrence would create a cobble necessitating a mill shutdovm.

To avoid this difiiculty, stripper guides in the form of elongated finger elements indicated typically by the reference numeral 38 are positioned adjacent each groove 30 on the downstream side of the rolls. The finger elements, which in the preferred embodiment are fixed to common transverse bars 40 by means of bolt and nut assemblies 42, protrude inwardly into the grooves to provide a stripping action which prevents stock from remaining lodged therein after emerging from between the rolls. Transverse bars 40 are in turn fixed to the upper and lower roll chocks 26 and 28 by means of bolts 44.

This construction offers several advantages when compared to conventional arrangements where a set of stripper guides is mounted on each twister guide 32 as an integral extension thereof. More particularly, since a plurality of stripper guides (one for each groove) are now attached by means of common transverse bars 40 to the roll chocks, they will move with the rolls as subsequent adjustments are made during the rolling operation to compensate for roll wear. Previously, the rolls would be adjusted independently of the stripper guides. This would sometimes place the rolls in frictional contact with the guides and result in accelerated wear. By moving the stripper guides with the rolls, any possibility of frictional contact developing therebetween is completely obviated. A second and equally important advantage offered by the present construction will become apparent w en viewed in connection with the improved means utilized for laterally adjusting the guide apparatus to compensate for corresponding lateral shifts of the product to alternate passes.

As previously indicated, both the twister guides 32 and receiving guides 36 are mounted on a common base plate 34. As herein shown, these components have been arranged to accommodate a three-strand operation by providing three spaced guide assemblies. Plate 34, which forms the upper surface of intermediate base portion 14, is in turn slidably mounted on a fixed supporting member 46 for movement between housings 1t and 12 in a direction transverse to the pass line. Base plate 34 is guided in this transverse movement by depending integral leg members 48 which bear against adjacent parallel guide stops 50 extending upwardly from supporting member 46.

Movement is imparted to base plate 34 by means of an elongated threaded shaft 52, one end of which is held in a rotatable manner on supporting member 46 by means of a bearing 54. The other end of shaft 52 is threaded through a threaded passageway 56 in base plate 34. A crank 58 is attached to the shaft adjacent bearing 54 and when manually rotated in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction, results in base plate 34 being displaced in a direction transverse to the pass line between housings 10 and 12. The particular means described for imparting transverse movement to base plate 34 may of course be varied from that disclosed without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

With the above-described arrangement, three passes are simultaneously occupied at any one time during normal mill operation. When the roll grooves which form the occupied roll passes become worn, the stock is simply laterally shifted to an unused adjacent set of passes, thereby enabling the rolling operation to continue with out the necessity of a roll change. With twenty-one grooves in each roll as illustrated in the drawings, the stock may be shifted a total of six times before finally requiring a roll change.

The "guide assemblies positioned between the housings must also be shifted into alignment with the newly occupied passes if the apparatus is to function properly. This is accomplished in the present invention by a single operation wherein crank 58 is rotated -to simultaneously shift base plate 34 and the twister and receiving guides 32 and 36. A lateral shifting of these components is further facilitated by the separation of the stripper guides 38 from the twister guides 32. More particularly, due to the aforementioned separation, the need to withdraw and readjust the stripper guides when laterally displacing the remaining guide apparatus is completely obviated. This is to be contrasted to conventional guide apparatus where four separate adjustments must be made to the stripper guides, twister guides and delivery guides during each lateral shift of the stock. Thus it can be seen that the present invention simplified the task of laterally adjusting the guide assemblies and as a result, considerably shortens both the time expended by ope-rating personnel in performing this function as well as the nonproductive downtime of the mill.

If the apparatus is to function properly following lateral adjustment of stock to adjacent unused passes, the twister and receiving guides 32 and 36 must of necessity be accurately aligned with the grooves 30 of the newly occupied passes. To this end, the invention further includes indexing means, a preferred embodiment of which is herein shown in the form of a series of gauge blocks indicated typically by the reference numeral 60. The gauge blocks are pivoted for individual movement about a common shaft 62 extending laterally from the edge of base plate 34 and are provided with a thickness equal to the lateral distance between groove centers on the work rolls. The gauge blocks are designed to operate in conjunction with an adjacent bearing means, one example of which is illustrated in the drawings in the form of a bolt member 64 adjustably mounted on supporting member 46.

As shown in FIG. 2, the gauge blocks 60 have been pivoted about shaft 62 in a clockwise direction to a position resting in common alignment on the upper surface of supporting member 46. In addition, crank 58 has been rotated in a counterclockwise direction to laterally retract base plate 34 to a position in engagement with the end of bolt member 64 as at 66. When so positioned, the twister guides 32 and receiving guides 36 are aligned with roll grooves 30:: and are prepared to accept stock traveling in a direction as indicated diagrammatically by the solid arrows. Should the guides be improperly aligned when in this initial position, further minor adjustments can be accomplished by rotating crank 58 and adjusting bolt member 64.

Assuming now for purposes of discussion that it is desired to shift the stock from the positions as indicated in FIG. 2 in alignment with roll grooves 30a to an alternate position in alignment with roll grooves 30 12, the following procedure would be followed: crank 58 would be rotated in a clockwise direction to laterally displace plate 34 until the twister guides 32 and receiving guides 36 were positioned beyond the centers of grooves 30b. This having been accomplished, four gauge blocks 60 would be pivoted about shaft 62 to a position as indicated in FIG. 3. Thereafter, crank 58 would be rotated in a counterclockwise direction to retract base plate 34 until the pivoted gauge blocks were tightly positioned between the edge of base plate 34 and the end of adjustable bolt member 64. Since the thickness of each gauge block 60 is equal to the distance between centers on the roll grooves, the twister guides 32 and delivery guides 36 would now be accurately aligned with the centers of grooves 3012.

In view of the above, it should now be apparent to one skilled in the art that the twister guides and receiving guides may be aligned with adjacent passes by simply pivoting varying numbers of gauge blocks about their common shaft 62. In this manner, efficient and accurate adjustment of the guides is always assured.

It is our intention to cover all changes and modifications of the invention herein chosen for purposes of disclosure which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. For use in a rolling mill, apparatus for guiding stock along a predetermined path from one roll housing to the next succeeding roll housing, each said housings containing grooved work rolls journalled for rotation between adjustable roll chocks to form a plurality of laterally adjacent passes, said apparatus comprising: stripper means fixed to said chocks for movement therewith during subsequent adjustment of said rolls, said stripper means operable to revent adherence of stock to the surfaces of said rolls following its passage therebetween; guide means for pass line; and indexing means for aligning said guide 3' means with the particular roll grooves being utilized in Q the rolling operation.

2. For use with a roll housing in a rolling mill having multigrooved work rolls journalled between adjustable roll chocks, a guide apparatus for guiding stock along a predetermined path following its emergence from between said rolls, said guide apparatus comprising: stripper means fixed to said chocks for stripping stock from the surface of said rolls following the passage thereof through one or more of said grooves; guide means adjacent said stripper means for directing stock away from said rolls along the pass line, said guide means movable relative to said stripper means in a direction transverse to the pass line; and indexing means associated with said housing and said guide means for aligning the guide means with the particular roll grooves being utilized in the rolling operation.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said stripper means is comprised of an elongated supporting member extending between the roll chocks of each said rolls, said supporting member provided with a plurality of stripper elements protruding laterally therefrom towards said work rolls, said stripper elements extending into each of said grooves to prevent stock from remaining lodged therein following its emergence from between said rolls.

4. In a rolling mill, guide apparatus for use in directing stock along the pass line following its attenuation by grooved work rolls journalled for rotation between spaced roll chocks adjusta'bly mounted in a roll housing, said apparatus comprising: stripper means fixed to said spaced roll chocks for preventing adherence of said stock to said rolls; guide supporting means positioned adjacent said stripper means for movement relative thereto in a direction transverse to said ipass line; guide means positioned on said guide supporting means for receiving and guiding stock emerging from between said grooved rolls; and indexing means associated with said guide supporting means and said housing for insuring proper alignment of said guide means with the particular grooves in said work rolls being utilized during the rolling operation.

5. The apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said guide means is comprised of one or more twister guides positioned on said guide supporting means, said twister guides movable with said guide supporting means in a direction transverse to said pass line across the faces of said work rolls, and receiving guides fixed to said guide supporting means in spaced alignment with said twister guides for delivering stock to the next subsequent set of rolls.

6. In a rolling mill, for use with a roll housing having multigrooved work rolls journalled therein between adjustable roll chocks, apparatus for directing stock passing between said rolls to the next subsequent operation comprising the oombination of: stripper means fixed to said chocks for movement therewith, said stripper means operable to insure separation of said stock from the grooves in said rolls following its passage therebetween; a first stock guiding means aligned with at least one of said roll grooves for receiving stock emerging from between said rolls; a second st-ock guiding means providing a continuation of said stock receiver means for directing stock towards the next subsequent operation, said first and second stock guiding means mounted on a common supporting member movable independent of said stripper means, means for moving said supporting member in a direction transverse to the pass line to accommodate lateral adjustments of said stock to adjacent unoccupied r-oll grooves during the rolling operation; and indexing means associated with said supporting member for insuring proper alignment of said stock guiding means with the newly occupied roll grooves.

7. The apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein said indexing means is comprised of a gauge surface on said common supporting member, a stop member fixed in rela- 'tion to said supporting member adjacent said gauge surface, a plurality of gauge blocks mounted on said sup- ;porting member for individual movement to positions between said fixed stop and said gauge surface, the thickness of each said gauge blocks being equal to the distance between the centers of adjacent grooves on said work nolls, whereby desired lateral adjustments of said supporting member may be readily controlled by tightly positioning a selected member of said gauge blocks between said fixed stop and said gauge surface.

8. In a rolling mill, for use with first and second roll housin-gs of the type spaced by interconnecting frame members to provide a twin housing structure, each of said roll housings having mul-tigrooved work rolls journalled therein rbetween adjustable roll chocks to provide a plurality of laterally adjacent roll passes, guide apparatus positioned between said housing for directing stock from the roll passes of said first housing to aligned roll passes of said second housing comprising the combination of: stripper means extending intermediate the roll chocks of said first roll housing to prevent stock from remaining lodged within the gnooves of work rolls journalled therebetween during the rolling operation; guide means adjustably mounted on said interconnecting frame members for movement relative to said stripper means in a direction transverse to the pass line; means for transversely adjusting said guide means to accommodate changes in roll passes during the rolling operation; and indexing means for controlling the adjustment of said guide means in order to insure proper alignment with the passes of said first and second roll housings.

9. In a rolling mill, for use with first and second roll housings spaced and interconnected by frame members to provide a twin-housing structure, each of said housings having multi-grooved work polls journalled therein between adjustable roll chocks to provide a plurality of laterally adjacent roll passes, guide apparatus positioned between said housings for directing stock from the roll passes of said first housing to aligned noll passes of said second housing comprising the combination of: stripper means fixed to the roll chocks of said first roll housing to prevent stock from remaining lodged within the grooves of work rolls journalled therebetween during the rolling operation; guide assemblies for directing each strand of stock from said first housing to said second housing, each said guide assemblies mounted on a common supporting member and comprised of a twister guide followed by an aligned receiving guide; means for transversely adjusting said supporting member relative to said stripper means in a direction transverse to the pass line in order to simultaneously impart a corresponding adjustment to said stripper guides and receiving guides without disturbing the relative alignment therebetween; and indexing means for controlling the adjustment of said supporting member in order to insure proper alignment of said guide assemblies with the roll passes currently being utilized during the rolling operation.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 943,633 12/1909 Grey 72-227 2,214,107 9/ 1940 Montgomery 72-234 2,962,917 12/ 1960' Drysdale 72-227 3,013,453 12/1961 Rodnick 72-428 3,132,546 5/ 1964 Barr et al 72-227 CHARLES W. LANHAM, Primary Examiner.

H. D. HOINKES, Assistant Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,283,554 November 8, 1966 Robert J. Hermes et a1.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 1, line 48, strike out "must also be shifted into accurate alignment with" and insert instead worn, the strands of stock are simply shifted to Signed and sealed this 24th day of October 1967.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD J. BRENNER Edward M. Fletcher, Jr.

Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer 

1. FOR USE IN A ROLLING MILL, APPARATUS FOR GUIDING STOCK ALONG A PREDETERMINED PATH FROM ONE ROLL HOUSING TO THE NEXT SUCCEEDING ROLL HOUSING, EACH SAID HOUSINGS CONTAINING GROOVED WORK ROLLS JOURNALLED FOR ROTATION BETWEEN ADJUSTABLE ROLL CHOCKS TO FORM A PLURALITY OF LATERALLY ADJACENT PASSES, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING: STRIPPER MEANS FIXED TO SAID CHOCKS FOR MOVEMENT THEREWITH DURING SUBSEQUENT ADJUSTMENT OF SAID ROLLS, SAID STRIPPER MEANS OPERABLE TO PREVENT ADHERENCE OF STOCK TO THE SURFACES OF SAID ROLLS FOLLOWING ITS PASSAGE THEREBETWEEN; GUIDE MEANS FOR GUIDING STOCK TO THE NEXT SUCCEEDING ROLL HOUSING, SAID GUIDE MEANS POSITIONED ADJACENT SAID STRIPPER MEANS FOR MOVEMENT RELATIVE THERETO IN A DIRECTION TRANSVERSE TO THE PASS LINE; AND INDEXING MEANS FOR ALIGNING SAID GUIDE MEANS WITH THE PARTICULAR ROLL GROOVES BEING UTILIZED IN THE ROLLING OPERATION. 